In Ilocos Sur, the Singsons are each officers and contractors

Satrap Development, whose majority house owners are Chavit’s daughter and son-in-law, has had greater than P2 billion in infrastructure initiatives in Ilocos Sur up to now decade

MANILA, Philippines – The household of Ilocano kingpin and former Ilocos Sur governor Luis “Chavit” Singson has dominated the province for greater than 50 years, and, in not less than the final decade, they have been additionally energetic building contractors by the household firm Satrap Development.

Satrap Development was put up by Singson’s father, he mentioned himself on Friday, September 19, throughout a press convention. As of its January 2025 Normal Data Sheet (GIS), Satrap is co-owned by Singson’s daughter Regina S. Lim (40%) and her husband Wilbert Lim (10.83%), making the couple majority shareholders.

“Inaamin ko, sa amin ‘yan. Tatay ko engineer, contractor. Bata pa ako, sumasama na ako, timekeeper. Dugo at pawis ang ginamit namin diyan. Negosyo ng pamilya ko ‘yan. Pero, pa-inspect ‘yun lahat ng challenge ng Satrap. ‘Pag meron katiwalian, [mag]pakukulong ako,” Chavit mentioned.

(I admit, that’s ours. My father was an engineer, a contractor. I tagged alongside as a baby, I used to be a timekeeper. We invested blood and sweat into that firm. That’s our household’s enterprise. However examine all of Satrap’s initiatives. If there’s corruption, I’d go to jail.)

Within the final 9 years, from 2016 to 2025, Satrap cornered P2.1 billion price of infrastructure initiatives positioned in Ilocos Sur, in accordance with knowledge from the Division of Works and Highways. These are DPWH-awarded contracts. Nationwide from 2016 to 2025, Satrap cornered a complete of P2.7 billion price. Most of its initiatives have been actually in Ilocos Sur.

Of these initiatives, two have been flood management packages, each awarded in 2023, price a mixed P87 million. One is in Sta. Catalina city, the opposite is in San Ildefonso.

Battle of curiosity?

Chavit was requested on Friday whether or not he thinks politicians linked to contractors are additionally accountable, no matter whether or not the initiatives are discovered to be corrupt or not.

“Kung could delicadeza sila, dapat sila mag-resign, pero wala ako nakikita sa Pilipinas eh,” mentioned Chavit. (If they’ve delicadeza, they need to resign, however I don’t see that within the Philippines.)

However the Singsons held public workplaces in the identical time that the household additionally owned Satrap. Chavit’s son Ryan Luis Singson was governor from 2013 to 2022, and Chavit’s brother Jerry has been governor since 2022 to current. Ryan and Jerry simply switched roles.

In Congress, the place members are prohibited to “straight or not directly have an interest financially in any contract with authorities,” Regina’s brother Ronald Singson has been serving as Ilocos Sur 1st District consultant from 2013-2016, 2022-2025, and 2025-present. Their relations Eric Singson and Kristine Singson-Meehan have taken turns being 2nd District consultant since 2013.

Chavit defended Satrap’s authorities initiatives by saying that the house owners weren’t sitting public officers.

“Battle of curiosity kung could sarili silang building,” Chavit mentioned. (It’s battle of curiosity if the officers have their very own building agency.)

Part 3h of the anti-graft regulation prohibits public officers from “straight or not directly having monetary or pecuniary curiosity in any enterprise, contract or transaction in reference to which he intervenes or takes half in his official capability.”

The wording of this clause offers an out when the corporate is awarded contracts by one other company not associated to the official, on this case the DPWH.

Chavit, who was a longtime governor of Ilocos Sur earlier than 2013 when he slid all the way down to different posts like Narvacan mayor, mentioned he divested from the corporate.

Satrap, learn backwards, is Partas — the title of Chavit’s bus line. On the web site of his LCS Group of Firms, the declared firm is the Satrap Mining Company headed by one other son Randy Singson, who’s the present mayor of Vigan Metropolis, Ilocos Sur.

Chavit referred to as for a press convention on Friday to criticize the federal government of his former ally, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as a result of he mentioned he was dissatisfied with the present investigation into flood management anomalies.

Chavit mentioned Marcos should first look in his yard, or Ilocos Norte, citing Rappler’s report that the largest contractors there are the Discayas and the corporate of Laoag Metropolis Mayor Bryan Alcid, a Marcos ally.

“Paano niya hindi alam ito, eh probinsya niya ito? Paano tayo maniniwala ngayon kay Presidente?” Chavit mentioned. “Siya ang nagsabi, ‘Nakakahiya kayo’; dapat, ‘Nakakahiya tayo.’ Kasama ang mga Discaya, sila ang contractor niya eh,” Chavit added.

(How can he not know when that is his province, how may we consider the President? He mentioned, “‘”You need to be ashamed of yourselves,” when he ought to have mentioned, “We ought to be ashamed of ourselves,” as a result of the Discayas are their contractors.

That is the most recent episode within the fallout between President Marcos and Chavit, who was a staunch supporter of the Uniteam marketing campaign in 2022. Chavit beat across the bush when requested if he’s calling for Marcos’ resignation.

Chavit mentioned corrupt officers should resign, and when requested if Marcos was included in that decision, he mentioned: “Sinabi ko na eh (I already mentioned).” – Rappler.com